RANGING THE LAKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 13, 15 July 1937, Page 17

RANGING THE LAKE

SOME SIDELIGHTS

£5 LICENCES SUGGESTED

Ranging, said Mr. A. McLeod (Featherston), at the meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night, was not nearly so necessary at the beginning and close of a season as during the comparatively slack times at the middle of the season. At the opening of the season, when there were perhaps 57 guns on the one stopbank on Wairarapa Lake, all were anxious to see that others had a licence, and even welcomed the rangers. Getting information for the rangers was one of the troubles, and if rangers would come to the committeemen they could get it, and would be told where to go, Mr. McLeod continued. It Avas of little use' going round the shooting men at their "possies." Rangers should go to a man't gate and get him coming home when he did not expect it. When seven or eight men were out in a party, there was not so much objection to them shooting the limit of swans between them, but when five guns on an island stopped 15 swans coming over it, and stopped 12 swans coming over afterwards, and stopped them all, there was something to be said. "That is the sort of thing that goes on," said Mr. McLeod. "If the rangers were handy they could be given the information, and they could bring these men to book." » "Many of the farmers are seriously annoyed about this sort of thing," he continued. "The son of one of them, who is keen about it, is going to close his property to shooters. That would mean depriving 30 guns of their sport, and there are other farmers who are thinking of following his example. I am not complaining against any of the rangers, but it is impossible for two rangers to range the whole of the Wellington district. THE ONLY CURE. Mr. A. Seed: We £tre all agreed. The only cure is an increased licence fee. Mr. McLeod: We made a mistake last time in raising it ss; it should have ■been 10s. The chairman (Dr. G. F. V. Anson): , The success of ranging depends on the information given to the rangers. Mr. McLeod: When the offence has been committed, there is no sense in . then giving the rangers the information. It is easy to dress the swans Iso that they don't show. If you have a young dog he will find plenty of wings hidden. Mr. Seed: The ranger was round the district six days in June. It was stated by a member that the ranger, informed irr Wellington, was ejriy an hour and a half in reaching the spot on the lake. Mr. McLeod: Ranger Willson is a live wire, and knows his job, but the licence holders on my committee think that ; there should be a ranger in the Waira- ■ rapa. Mr. C. E. Aldridge agreed that the opening of the season was not the time i when the regulations were most ■ broken, but said that until finances : allowed of it, the rangers would have to carry on as they were going. Shooting from power boats should be stopped on the lake, said Mr..McLeod. Some owners were out every morning and evening after milking. Members: "The Red Devil?" It was decided to refer the matter of power boats to the game committee. When birds were badly wounded, said Mr. McLeod, there was nothing against getting the ranger to go out on the lake and shoot them; it was only right to prevent cruelty. Shooting from fast power boats was another matter. Then there was the need for preventing the poaching of swans' eggs. Dr. Anson: I cannot see a 30s licence covering all this. I think that to. range the district really effectively we want a £5 licence.